A steady routine for wild times...
Hi there, I'll get right to the point.
I started this year SO excited for 2025, and Twinkle Apothecary's 10 year anniversary celebration!
Then, everything went to heck. :(
Sales are way, way down, no one can stop talking about how scary it is out there... and I don't think I've sold a bottle of cleanser all month, even with May's 20% off orders $50+ special offer! (Code: MAYDAY! Which is also what every small business owner is crying out at the moment... also, good gracious what are you doing, not washing your face?! That makes me so sad!!!)
Real talk - not to dismiss everyone's very valid fears over the economy, but it's been scary to be a small business owner for a while now, so I actually feel pretty prepared for this moment. I refuse to give in to fear, and a president who can't even run a profitable casino will NOT be how Twinkle Apothecary's story ends. No sireee.
I've already been doing a lot of thinking over the past few years about how I could streamline my collection even further, if needed.
Like, what's the absolute simplest thing I could do for my skin? Or, what if I had to go out of business? (Yikes!) What would I use on my face? Or, is there something else I could offer to share with you so you wouldn't have to go without the good stuff either, no matter what happens in this crazy world?
I even thought about trying to formulate a new, all-in-one do-it-all product, but at the end of the day, there's just no replacing my simple little three step Twinkle routine.
But, there is a way to do it even more simply...
and since making skincare simple, sustainable, and joyful for everyone is my mission,
allow me to introduce you to the Twinkle Skincare Basics Collection:
Um, yeah, sorry, if it doesn't look so impressive. It's real simple.
But still just as effective!
These are great big, 8 oz bottles of cleaner, toner, and moisturizer that are sold together as a set for $89 or separately, for a lot less moolah than my current skincare collection. This'll last you for months too.
Let's discuss.
Yes, you can wash your face with just oats!
Oats have moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. They also contain natural saponins, which means that they create a subtle foaming action when combined with water, to help remove dirt while protecting your skin barrier.
You can use this big bottle of oat flour on it's own, mixed with your original Twinkle cleanser, or add the pore-refining and exfoliating boosts to customize your routine!
This bottle contains 30-50 uses for $20. That's like, $.40 a day.
And I know you might be thinking, "Stefanie, can't I just go buy oat flour at the grocery store?" And my answer is ABSOLUTELY! If that works better for you, you have my blessing.
Shopping at the grocery store may not be as satisfying as shopping at Twinkle Apothecary (plus, you won't be earning rewards points to cash in for fancy little natural perfumes and makeup!) and it's also kind of a pain in the butt to funnel oat flour into a bottle like this, but if you want to DIY and save even more money, (unfortunately I still have to charge a markup for my labor and packaging so that I can buy ridiculously expensive groceries for my family too!) you know I will always encourage you to go for it.
Honestly, I'll just be happy to know that you're washing your face with something gentle that's not going to blast away your skin barrier, or wasting your money on cheap junk that doesn't deliver results. Keeping you aglow during these trying times version 12.7.6 is my main concern!
Next up,
8 oz for $30.
This is like, 2015 pricing y'all. I feel so strongly about making sure you don't skip this step that I am willing to take the hit!
To reduce the cost, I settled on the most simple but soothing and effective for all skin types essential oil blend that I could think of. The new Basic Blend of essential oils is lavender, carrot seed, and chamomile - yup, the exact same blend I use in Balm and Light Lotion!
I also use a lighter dilution of essential oils than I do in the original Toner, but still plenty to be effective.
For smaller bottles, or an essential oil free toner, I'll still direct you to the original toner and rose and lavender hydrosols, which I can't make any cheaper, sorry!
Finally, moisturize with
8 oz for $50 or $60 with the essential oil basic blend
If you can only pick one... I say that jojoba oil is the perfect everything moisturizer for your face, body, or hair, because it's actually a liquid wax which closely resembles the texture of the oil your skin produces naturally.
It's non-pore clogging and balancing for all skin types, and is rich in anti-inflammatory, skin-healing B-vitamins, and contains a high amount of repairing vitamin E.
Jojoba's light, slippery texture also makes it perfect for oil cleansing and removing makeup.
You can use this on its own, combine it with another carrier oil to create your own blend, or mix it into the other Twinkle Oil: for face, body, and hair!
(Use code MAYDAY! to get it for just $71.20 this month!)
And that's my solution for an ultra-streamlined, microbiome friendly, sustainable skincare routine! The only thing missing is Butter, which is already pretty inexpensive at $25 for a 6 month supply.
I hope this helps keep you feeling soft, comforted, and sparkling clean, no matter what happens next. Maybe you'll decide to mix them in with your current Twinkle skincare routine, decide to streamline the whole thing, or just stick with what you already know works.
No matter what you choose, it's nice to have options, right?
Never stop washing your face I mean taking care of yourself,
Stefanie
More about why these products work:
What is Microbiome Friendly Skincare
